Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 804,215. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905. G. H. CLIFF.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00w. 29, 1 04.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses: Inventor 6607176 612 fzf v o I" 69. M Attorneys PATENTED NOV.14, 1905 G. H. CLIFF.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 29, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Gav/ya? Um; Inventor Witnesses Attorneys No. 804,215. PATENT-ED NOV. 14,1905.

' G. H. CLIFF.

AGETYLENB GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DOT. 29, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Attorneys Witnesses:

P R n I L HU R am AGBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 1904.

nventor Attorneys No. 804,215. PATBNTED. NOV. 14, 1905. G. H. GLIFF.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED 00129, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Witnesses: afafygji .lnventor 2/ y 4Q M Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENTorEioE.

GEORGE HENRY CLIFF, OF DUNDAS, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY GORDON CLIFF,OF DUNDAS, CANADA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed October 29, 1904:. Serial No. 230,479.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoReE HENRY CLIFF, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Dundas, in the county of Wentworth, in the Provinceof Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Generators; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to gas-producing apparatus, and especially toapparatus used in the generation and storing of acetylene gas.

The object of the invention is to produce apparatus of the classdescribed which is very simple in construction and not likely to get outof order, one of the aims being to dispense with stop-cocks, valves,taps, screw-plates, rubber gaskets, and so forth.

The invention contemplates an arrangement whereby all parts of theapparatus will be water-sealed, and simple arrangement is made forrendering the generation of the gas automatic and for preventing theovergeneration of gas.

The invention comprises also an improved construction of trap, togetherwith improved means for relieving an excessive pressure.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in theclaims.

In the drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is aperspective of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan. 3 is a vertical sectionthrough the apparatus. Fig. 4; is a vertical section taken substantiallyon the line 4: 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken throughthe upper portion of the apparatus, representing the generator-covers asremoved. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the carbid-holders. Fig.8 is a perspective of an auxiliary cover or lid used in connection withthe carbid-holders.

Throughout the drawings and specification the same numerals of referencedenote like parts.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the body of thegas-holder, which, as shown, consists of a substantially rectangularvessel or tank preferably constructed of sheet metal and containing aquantity of water. Within this tank there is received a bell 2, also ofsheet metal, the lower edge whereof is immersed in the water in theusual manner, the said bell, in connection with the body 1, constitutinga gasometer, it being understood that arrangement is made whereby thegas may accumulate in the space 3 under the bell. As usual, the bell isexpected to rise and fall with the variations in the volume of gas inthe space 3, for which purpose arrangement is made for guiding the upperportion of the bell. This arrangement consists in providing aguide-frame 4:, having vertically-disposed side bars 5, which arestepped in sockets 6, carried at the expanded mouth 7 of the body 1, asshown. Guide-brackets 8, attached to the upper side of the hell, havenotches or recesses which receive the vertical bars 5, as will bereadily understood.

The body 1, which has a false bottom 9 and the space 10 beneath thesame, is partially filled with water and constitutes a trap for reasonswhich will appear more fully hereinafter. The space 10 communicates withthe space 3 under the bell by a pipe 11, which passes vertically upthrough the body 1, as indicated.

At the lower portion of the body and at the forward wall thereof thereis attached a generator-tank 12, consisting, substantially, of an openrectangular vessel intended to be partially filled with water, asindicated. Within this tank 12 generator-boxes 13 are formed, the samebeing substantially of rectangular form, comprising vertical side Walls14 and elevated or false bottoms 15. The dimensions of thesegenerator-boxes are such that spaces 16 and 17 are left in thegenerator-tank at the ends of the boxes at the bottom. The side walls ofthe boxes are preferably cut away or mutilated, as indicated at 18.Within the boxes 13 carbid-holders 19 are placed, the same consisting ofrectangularly-formed trays with transverse walls 20 dividing the sameinto compartments, as indicated, the said walls being preferablymutilated by means of deep substantially V-shaped notches 21. There arepreferably two of these boxes 13, each adapted to receive acarbid-holder, as indicated. Automatic arrangement is made fordelivering water to the carbid-holders, for which purpose pipes 22 areplaced as shown, the said pipes comprising vertical extensions 23, whichterminate above in funnels 24 and 25. At the carbid-holders the saidpipes 22 comprise goosenecks 26, which deliver the water over the edgesof the carbid-holders and at opposite ends of the same. Above thefunnels 24 and 25 and preferably substantially centrallytherebetweenthere is arranged a feeder or funnel 27, the same being attached to thewall of the body 1, as indicated, and communicating below with adrippipe 28, which latter pipe is preferably of rubber or similarmaterial and adapted to have its mouth lie within either of the funnels24 25. Substantially vertically above the feeder 27 the bell 2 isprovided with an arm 29,preferably overhanging thesame,as shown, and thelower portion of this arm is formed into a substantially horizontal rest30, which is adapted to receive the extremity of afeedpipe or hose 31,the opposite extremity whereof passes to the wall of the holder at 32,just beneath the water-line within the body. From this arrangement itshould be understood that when the outer extremity of the hose 31 ismaintained in an elevated position no water will flow therethrough; butwhen by reason of the exhaustion of the gas under the bell, the saidbell descends sufficiently to bring the rest beneath the water-linewithin the holder,

a small quantity of water will flow through the hose through the feeder27, and find its way to the carbid-holders.

The gas generated in the carbid-holders is caught under thegenerator-covers 33, which covers consist, substantially, of bottomlessrectangular box-like bodies, the lower edges whereof are immersed in thewater in the generator-tank, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. Thesegenerator-covers are of such dimensions that they substantially fill theentire area of the generator-tank and include beneath them portions ofthe spaces 16 and 17 referred to above. It should be stated at thispoint that the pipes 22 pass upwardly through these spaces, so thattheir upper portions lie under the generator-covers, as indicated mostclearly in Fig. 4.

Over the carbid-holders are placed auxiliary covers or lids 34, theconstruction of which is most clearly shown in Fig. 8. These lids havedepending side walls. or flanges 35 on three sides of the same, asshown. Their length is less than that of the holders, so that when theyare applied to the holders, as indicated in Fig. 4, with their opensides disposed toward the point where the goosenecks 26 are located,they constitute incomplete covers. In order to lead away the gas whichis generated, pipes 36 are employed, the same being disposed at oppositesides of the generatortank and having vertical extensions 37, the mouthswhereof are located above the waterline and under the auxiliary coversor lids 34, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. These pipes 36 communicatewith the space 10, which constitutes a trap, the same entering the spacebeneath the water-line and near the bottom of the trap, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 6.

From an inspection of Fig. 8 it will appear that the auxiliary covers orlids 34 are applied in opposite positionsthat is, the covers are appliedto opposite ends of the carbid-holders to correspond with thearrangement of the pipes 36.

The generator-covers 33 are provided in their upper walls with openings38, which openings are in communication with pipes 39, havingsubstantially vertically-disposed extensions 40, which projectdownwardly at the side of the generator-tank. These extensions 40 arenormally received within buckets 41, which are partially filled withwater for the purpose of forming a seal to prevent the escape of gasthrough the said pipes, the said buckets being provided with bails 42,supporting the same, as shown. It should be observed that the openings38 are located so that they lie over the auxiliary covers 34 at a pointremote from the open sides of the said covers. Upon the upper sides of.the generator-covers 33 bails 43 are attached, preferably two beingused in connection with each cover. The said bails have shanks 44, whichconstitute axes of rotation for the said bails, and these are slidablymounted in clips or straps 45, which are attached to the upper face ofthe covers, as indicated. These shanks 44 are substantially in alinementwith ears 46, attached to the tankand having openings therethrough whichmay receive the shanks, as indicated. From this arrangement it followsthat when the shanks 44 are in engagement with the ears 46 thegenerator-covers would be maintained in a depressed position, so as toprevent their rising from the pressure of the gas therebeneath.

The bell 2 is provided with a centrally-disposed blow-off tube 47, whichis closed above, as usual, and which receives within the same a blow-offpipe 48, which pipe extends vertically downward, so that its lowerextremity dips in the water in the trap 10, above which point itconnects with a horizontal extension 49, which leads out of the buildingin which the apparatus is supposed to be placed. A service-pipe 50 isdisposed at the side of the apparatus, the-same connecting with avertical extension 51 disposed within the holder, as shown, the saidextension 51 extending below the horizontal connection 52 and dipping inthe water in the trap, as shown. It should be observed that the lowermouth of the extension 48 is disposed at a higher level than the lowermouth of the extension 51, from which arrangement the blow-off pipe willbe the first to be uncovered by a descent of the water-level in thetrap.

At the side of the trap 10 a water-pocket 53 is attached, the same beingin communication at 53 near its lower extremity with the sumed the waterwould eventually penetrate interior of the trap'and having an overflow54 disposed at the level desired for the water within the trap. Inconnection with the generator-tank 12 an overflow-pipe is arranged.

The mode of operation of the apparatus Will now be described.

The exhaustion of the gas beneath the bell 2 will result in depressingthe rest 30 to a point below the water-level within the body 1, so thatwater would flow through the feeder 27, eventually finding its waythrough either of the pipes 23 to either of the carbid-holders 19,passing through one of the goosenecks 26. The carbid would then reactwith this water, and the gas generated would collect in the space underthe auxiliary cover of the active carbid-holder. As the generation ofthe gas continued and the carbid became conto the extremity of thecarbid-holder remote from the point of admission of the water. The gaswhich would be generated in this remote portion of the carbid-holder,however, would be obliged to flow back toward the partially-uncoveredend of the carbid-holder and then forwardly around the sides and top ofthe auxiliary cover to find outlet through the vertical extension 37 ofthe corresponding pipe 36. The presence of the auxiliary cover isconsidered highly advantageous in preventing an overgeneration of gas.Seemingly the overgeneration of gas is prevented by the fact that themoisture-laden gas just formed does not pass over the surface of theunconsumed carbid, and in practice it has been found that the carbid inthe remote portion of the carbid-holder remains unconsumed until reachedby the percolation of the water entering from the side. The gas passesby either of the pipes 36 to the trap 10, entering beneath thewater-line within the same, as shown. While this trap operates toprevent the backfiow of gas from the gasometer or holder, the water ofthe trap also operates to cool the gas and reduce the relatively hightemperature at which it comes from the generators. When the carbid ofthe active carbid-holder'has become consumed, the pipe 28 will bedisposed in the funnel 24, so as to bring the other generator intooperation. The carbid in the generator now thrown out of use would thenbe replenished. To do this, it would be necessary to remove thegenerator-cover above the inactive carbid-holder, and in order tofacilitate the removal of this cover the bucket 41 would be removed fromthe pipe 10, so as to open communication with the outer air to enablethe cover to be raised without producing a partial vacuum therebeneath.'It should be understood, of course, that the bails 43 of this coverwould he slid longitudinally inwardly to disengage the same. If duringthe operation of the apparatus the bell should refuse to respond, so asto rise and accommodate accumulations of if this state of affairscontinued a sufficient length of time the Water-level within the trapwould become so depressed as to uncover the lower mouth of the blow-offpipe 48. When this occurred, the pressure would relieve itself throughthe blow-ofif pipe 48. Evidently, also, the lower extremities of thepipes .18 and 51 operate as drips or outlets for Water which maycondense in the pipes thereabove. Of course the blow-off tube a7operates in the usual manner in connection with the blow-off pipe 48, itbeing understood that if the bell should rise to such a height as touncover the mouth of the tube 47 the excessive accumulation of gas wouldflow out through the blow-off pipe 48 in the manner which is usual inapparatus of this kind. 7

The apparatus described constitutes very simple means for generatingacetylene gas and has the advantage of economy of construction added tosafety and efliciency in operation. It must be observed that allnecessity for gas-tight joints is obviated by the universal employmentof water seals.

The arrangementfor preventing the excessive generation of gas in thecarbid-holders is considered a highly advantageous feature.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form orposition without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention,and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as areincluded within the scope of the following claims or of mechanicalequivalents to the structures set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a generator-tankconstructed to contain a bath, a generator-cover having a depending sidewall dipping in said bath, means for generating gas under said cover, adownwardly-extending pipe communicating with the interior of saidgenerator-cover, and a removable water seal for said pipe.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a generator-tankconstructed to contain a bath, a generator-cover having side wallsdipping therein, means for producing a gas under said cover, said coverhaving a downwardly-projecting pipe communicating with the interiorthereof, and a bucket adapted to contain a liquid and receiving saidpipe.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a generator-tank constructed to contain a bath, agenerator-cover dipping in said bath, slidable means for locking saidgenerator-cover against rising, said generatorcover having an openingtherein, and a removable Water seal for said opening.

t. In apparatus of the class'described, in'

combination, a generator-tank constructed to contain a bath, agenerator-cover dipping in said bath, bails carried by said generatorcovenfor lifting the same, means of engagement between said bails andsaid tank to lock said generator-cover against rising, saidgenerator-cover having an opening therein, and a removable seal for saidopening.

